Denver Broncos Quarterback Bo Nix Compared To Peyton Manning For Key Trait

"(Nix) is a guy that players want to be around," Super Bowl champion Chris Harris Jr. told Kay Adams. "And we haven't had a guy that was a big recruiter since Peyton Manning. Everybody wanted to come to Denver when we had Peyton."

Harris Jr. played for the Broncos from 2011-2019, with the Pro Football Hall-Of-Famer Manning, so his perspective of the two quarterbacks is unique.

"Now, to be able to have a guy like Bo, who's a cornerstone guy for us - we believe in him, the players believe in him, everybody in the building believes in him - Now, everybody outside sees that, they feel that energy. Now they want to be a part of it," Harris Jr. continued.

Denver coach Sean Payton added key players this offseason at positions of need, highlighted by tight end Evan Engram, cornerback Jahdae Barron, safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw.

After departing the San Francisco 49ers and signing with Denver, Hufanga talked about his new quarterback in Nix.

“Even talking to Dre (Greenlaw), he was my locker partner at the Niners and then we came here together, we were like ‘Man, when you got a quarterback that can go out there and really play, as a defense, you know it’s just not three and out,” Hufanga told DNVR’s Zac Stevens. “There are a lot of teams like that in the NFL. So for us, it’s like ‘We got potential here.’ Why can't we come over here and help change. He’s the reason.”

The future is bright in Denver with Nix, who dazzled with 3,775 passing yards and 29 touchdowns in a break out rookie season.

An offensive rookie of the year candidate, Nix's dominance in the NFL does not come as a surprise to Ducks fans, who witnessed his poise in the pocket. After transferring from Auburn, Nix shined at Oregon, breaking the NCAA single-season record for completion percentage in 2023 at 77.45, completing a whopping 364 of 470 passes.

After quickly adjusting to the NFL, Nix broke multiple NFL rookie records in 2024. Nix became the first rookie quarterback ever with multiple games with at least 300 passing yards, four passing touchdowns and a passer rating of at least 140. Nix broke the rookie record for the most games with 200 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and no interceptions. Nix led all NFL rookies in total touchdowns, passing yards and completion percentage in 2024.

Nix has the support and respect of Payton, who is also in his second season as a Denver Bronco.

"I know this, (Nix) is very conscientious. ... I think it's all in front of him," Payton said after Nix's rookie season. "I've said this before, I think we've found that player that can lead us and be what we need relative to having the success that we're used to having. I think we found him."

Manning expects Nix and the Broncos to keep building on their momentum in the 2025 NFL season.

"It’s been a good fit,” Manning said during an interview on Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan in January. “I just see it continuing to get better... You could tell Sean was interested in him early on as a player, as a person. And I think he’s been everything that Sean was kind of hoping he would be. Just a gym rat, a guy that loves ball, a guy that wants more. ‘Hey, give me more, I can handle it.'”